Flagler County sheriff, community group donate bicycles to Ukrainian refugees

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A family of Ukrainian refugees have a new way to get to know their new community in Palm Coast, thanks to a donation by the Flagler County Sheriff and the Bike Men of Flagler County.

The family was gifted bicycles last week as they work to settle into their new home.

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Joseph Golan, with the Bike Men of Flagler County, said Sheriff Rick Staly reached out to him about the new kids in the area who are staying here indefinitely while their fathers remain in Ukraine to fight.

“Getting to see the looks on Timur and Masha’s faces when they received their bikes was just priceless,” Staly said in a statement. “They’ve been through so much the past few months and they are still in good spirits.”

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While they met with the family to give them the bikes, Staly said he told the family that his department is donating bullet-resistant vests and helmets to the Ukrainian military.

Officials said the vests are out of warranty and can’t be reissued to FCSO deputies but are still usable. FCSO shipped 21 vests and 11 helmets last week after the National Sheriff’s Association sent out a plea to sheriff’s offices across the country to provide surplus vests and helmets to the Ukrainian military.

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“I’m glad to be able to help and show support in any way we can,” Staly said. “The process to destroy out-of-warranty protective vests is complicated, so I’m glad we are able to donate them to a useful cause.”

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